Nkandla security excessive - FF Plus

Politics / 28 January 2013, 1:05pm

SAPA

Supporters of South Africa's President Jacob Zuma prepare to prevent opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party members from walking towards Zuma's house in Nkandla November 4, 2012. According to local media, the DA has requested details of the 248 million rand ($28.3 million) upgrades to Zuma's house, some 240 km (149 miles) north of Durban. REUTERS/Rogan Ward (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: POLITICS)

Johannesburg - The R206 million spent on securing President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla home was excessive, the Freedom Front Plus said on Monday.

“It is possible to have effective security measures put in place for far less than the amount mentioned,” FF Plus spokesman on public works Pieter Groenewald said in a statement.

On Sunday, Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi announced the findings of an investigation into the money spent on Nkandla. He said the government spent R206 million on security upgrades and consultants.

Included in this amount was R135 million for the “operational needs” of various government departments, R71 million for consultants and security features such as bullet proof windows, security fencing, evacuation mechanisms, and firefighting equipment, he told reporters in Pretoria.

Also included in the total was R26 million to make changes to the project (variation orders).

Groenewald called for the full report to be made public. Nxesi said it would not because the residence was a national key point.

“The minister has to declare how many officials from each department, and who are not police members, were deployed. The president is very seldom at Nkandla and it does not justify the operational costs,” he said.

The Christian Democratic Party on Monday said it was referring a document on Zuma's Nkandla home to the public protector.

The party said a document about Nkandla was circulated in numerous e-mails. This was the document the CDP would refer to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. According to this document R1.5 billion, which included the Nkandla highway, was actually spent.

“Accusations of such a kind have to be investigated. If what is in it (document) is true... it's very serious. If people are spreading rumours... they need to be brought to book on it,” CDP leader Theunis Botha said.

“South Africans deserve to be informed about what is really taking place.” - Sapa